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Post by harrypotter07 on Feb 24, 2008 20:36:28 GMT
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Post by smashing tony on Feb 24, 2008 21:28:46 GMT
now thats a good read  |
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SCFC1863
Youth Player
Best Championship Team in the Midlands
Posts: 414
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Post by SCFC1863 on Feb 24, 2008 21:38:33 GMT
good read.
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Post by iwb1960 on Feb 24, 2008 23:43:25 GMT
Thanks a Million - great read
IWB1960
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Post by harrypotter07 on Feb 25, 2008 15:03:47 GMT
no worries lads, glad you liked. Ill tell my mate, he'll be made up!!!
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Post by beagriestache on Feb 25, 2008 15:15:14 GMT
I love this story at the end...
Talk of Stoke fans in Eire has reminded me of a trip myself and two mates made to the Emerald Isle to see the Rip Roaring Potters play. We were relegated from the 1st Division in 75/76. Prior to 76/77 Stoke arranged a mini pre-season trip to Eire to play Finn Harps and a team from Thurles. The three of us caught the Liverpool-Dublin ferry, hired a car in Dublin and set off for the first game vs Finn Harps (in a place called Ballybofey (sp?) if I remember.) We waited at the ground for the team to arrive, when they did they were so impressed (or possibly non-plussed!)that we hade made the trip they let us take the kit into the ground and sit on the bench during the game with the subs and manager (George Eastham.) They told us to wait for the team at the next game and they would let us do the kit/bench routine once again.
With no disrpect to the good people of Thurles, for those not familiar with the delights of the place, Thurles was a bit of a one horse town in the middle of nowhere (well it was in 1976 anyway.)
With only a vague idea of where we were going and a degree of uncertainty that we were heading the right way we tentatively approached a small town. On seeing up ahead a figure riding a bicycle the three of uschorused “ask him, he’ll perhaps know where the ground is.”
We quickly caught up with the cyclist whom we discovered was a young lad of about 11 or 12. As we pulled up alongside him once again three voices chorused, only this time it was to utter, Meldrewesque, “I don’t believe it!”
The lad was wearing a hand knitted pull-over with the words Stoke City FC spelt out on the front and back!
It turned out he was from Thurles and his aunt lived in Stoke and had sent him the jumper which she had made. Not only that, he then produced a Stoke team photo from his pocket and named every player!
To cut a long story short, he came to the game with us and we met the team as arranged and the young lad joined us on the bench for the game.
I will never forget the look of sheer, over-awed joy on the boy’s face when he met his heroes from Stoke City.
I just hope he kept the faith all these years and he may once again see Stoke City in Thurles (albeit on Sky!)
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Post by knowles on Feb 25, 2008 15:23:25 GMT
Great read that was. Cheers HP and well done to Tim
If there are any more let us know!!
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Post by Irish Stokie on Feb 25, 2008 15:55:22 GMT
Ye an excellent read from a true fan. Hopefully their will be planty more to follow, fair play!
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Post by soicowboy on Feb 25, 2008 16:16:39 GMT
Thurles- famous for it's stadium but must be about the size of Kidsgrove. Vaguely remember Stoke going to play Finn Harps in Ballyboffy-didn't we sign Jim mcGroaty after that game from them? Remember him scoring in a dreadful 1-1 draw with Mansfield at the Vic.
Nice story- former Eurovision winner Dana a big Harps fan- useless info for you and ex Port Vale player Felix Healy used to manage them.
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Post by The Stubborn Optimist on Feb 25, 2008 17:53:18 GMT
I wrote the Finn Harps/Thurles story.
The three of us that made the trip were me, Dave Clarke (better known as Wigan Dave) and Brian Carroll.
Finn Harps played in West Brazil's away kit that day. Apparently WBA had played them the week before and their manager Johnny Giles had "forgotten" to make sure the kit was packed away on the coach afterwards.
Stoke had originally planned to play Galway in the second game but for some unknown reason this fell through so the game at Thurles was hastily arranged as an alternative.
Thurles FC put a reception on for Stoke at a local hotel after the game. George Eastham invited us to join the players at the hotel. The locals were buying us drinks, the players were buying us drinks, the directors were buying us drinks, needless to say we got so pissed that night!
Terry Conroy came up to me in the bar towards the end of the night and asked "You know your mate from Wigan, do you know where he is?"
"No" I replied.
"Well don't worry, he's passed out in the middle of the main street."
" Shit! I'd better go and get him."
" Ah leave him there, if he holds up the traffic I'm sure someone will move him" replied TC!
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Post by harrypotter07 on Feb 25, 2008 18:19:50 GMT
yeah loved that story at bottom about lad with knitted stoke jumper - class! No worries lads ill tell Tim & let you all know when he writes another one. He'll be made up with comments on here.
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Post by harrypotter07 on Feb 25, 2008 18:22:24 GMT
nice one babyeuan3 - just clicked! Great story that.
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